Simploring 2019 (48) Amrum

When I came across Amrum on scoop.it SL Destinations I decided immediately that I had to visit it. Amrum is an island located in the North Sea, just south of the way more famous island Sylt. I’ve been on Sylt quite often, I know the climate, the environment and I enjoyed walking endless hours along the beach. And Amrum in Second Life?

Amrum in Second Life is an adult homestead designed by Jacky Macpherson and owned by Sunrise (Sunrise Avalanche). It is way smaller than the island in the physcial world and just has 3 houses. The name does fit nonetheless as Amrum in SL has a comparably long beach at one side (the side directed to the sea) and a greener and a bit more rocky shore on the other side. The vegetation consists of grass, beachgrass and some trees. You come across some horses and sheep that graze peacefully and seagulls circle above your head. You hear the sound of the sea rushing. And you even find two beach chairs, which are quite typical for the German coast. This all adds up to the feeling being on vacation on an island in the German North Sea.

The three houses don’t fit on a German island with regard to their style and architecture. They do fit to Amrum in Second Life though. The houses are public, at least I saw no single sign or read anything saying that they are private. And the doors are wide open, the curtains fly like flags out of the open windows. Hence I looked inside.

Impressions of Amrum (1) – The Meet&Talk house and the Event decking

The house near to the landing point offers space to sit on a large wooden terrace. Inside is just one large room that offers also places to sit and talk. From the other side you can see a yacht anchoring nearby and you can see at platform at the beach, which could be used for parties or events. I named this house the “Meet&Talk house”

Impressions of Amrum (2) – The Bedroom house

The second house I went into just has only one single room inside as well featuring a large (adult) bed and some decorations, hence I named it “Bedroom house”

Impressions of Amrum (3) – The BDSM house

The third house has two rooms, one of them is fitted with BDSM gear and furniture of high quality and is in my opinion quite stylish. I might make use of it for a session. I couldn’t refrain from testing some of the gear. The other room is decorated with erotic pictures, has a piano and some adult furniture and also looks quite stylish. I called this house “BDSM house”. What a vacation home!

Impressions of Amrum (4) – Varous spots to sit and enjoy

As mentioned above Amrum in SL has a quite long beach at one side of the island and I had fun walking along it. I sat in one of the beach chairs and I tried out several other opportunities to sit and enjoy the atmosphere. Quite close to the BDSM house is a nice place to meditate, another meditation point is closer to the Meet&Talk house.

More impressions of Amrum

Beside all of the above Amrum is a nice place to take pictures with a maritime background and to simply enjoy. When I visited Amrum the first time I met Inara Pey who was exploring Amrum riding her horse. We had a nice chat. Inara published her blogpost “Amrum in Second Life” just the same day.

Thank you Sunrise for sharing your sim with the public. I enjoyed my short trip to the North sea in Second Life!

Landmark to Amrum
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Amazonia/121/75/25
Inara Pey’s blog post “Amrum in Second Life”
https://modemworld.me/2019/04/08/amrum-in-second-life/

Simploring 2019 (46) Hotel California

For my simploring tour on Tuesday, April 2nd, I picked Hotel California from scoop.it SL Destinations. What attracted me was the name of course. We once had a little private prison, that we called Hotel California because of the song from the Eagles with the same name “You can checkout any time you like, but you can never leave!”

Anyway, this Hotel California has nothing to do with it at all! In the landmark profile it is described as “A war torn land fighting it’s way back to beauty. Life always finds a way.” and it is tagged with “Photography, Scenic, Landscape, Photo, Art, Photographer, Country, Apocalypse, War, Apocalyptic, Garden, Vintage, Travel, Explore

Hotel California – overview

Hotel California is an adult sim owned by Lex Machine (schmexysbuddy) and it is a piece of land clearly torn by war. But the war seems to be over for a long time already and nature takes the land back. This offers quite some opportunities for particular pictures and extraordinairy views.

Hotel California – Landing point and hotel

The landing is on a destroyed bridge, one end is broken, the other leads to a hotel. Strangely the illuminated advertising is still working but the hotel itself is empty, abandoned for a long time already, bushes and weed grow from every crack in the walls. In the open patio, there’s still a table and a few chairs. Many birds fly around the hotel, they seem to have their nests here. Very odd is the small motor bike parked in front of the hotel. The whole area seems to be abandoned, who is living here?

Hotel California – Ruins in the water with “soldiers”

After exploring the hotel I went down to the shore to have a look at the 2 big ruins that peek out of the sea. I came across an old rusty tank wreck and then saw a group of statues in the water, like soldiers that run to the shore to occupy it, or do they flea from the ruins? The statues are not soldiers, they reminded me a bit of those from Mistero Hifeng. The tank wreck, the “soldiers” and the two ruins build an artful installation. I climbed on the ruins, there’s really not much left but concrete and steel. At one corner a huge octopussy peeks out with it’s long tentacles.

Hotel California – Gazebo, plane wreck and other impressions

There’re some more ruins on Hotel California, just 2 buildings are not destroyed, one is a gazebo at the shore and the other one is a large wooden residential home. I went inside of the residential home, all rooms are empty. The only room that isn’t empty is a greenhouse, which is full of plants. On the meadows next to this house animals are grazing peacefully. Strange enough that after some exploring the atmosphere doesn’t seem so violent anymore, despite of all the ruins and leftovers from a war.

Hotel California – Abandoned house

Next to the house I noticed an entrance to something in the underground. It turned out being a bunker and it is the only room that is furnished and there’s someone living in it obviously.

Hotel California – Bunker and other impressions

Hotel California is an one of a kind sim, the ruins in the water with the “soldiers” is a piece of art, the rest of the sim is strangely peaceful … “life always finds a way“.
Thank you Lex for sharing the sim with the public.

Landmark to Hotel California
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Hotel%20California/139/167/41

Simploring 2019 (44) Lotus Bay

Thursday, March 28th, I picked Lotus Bay from scoop.it SL Destinations for my next simploring tour. Lotus Bay is an adult homestead owned by Maria Kobaleinen (dreamy lebed). Maria wrote in the landmark description:
A luxurious tropical island with a hedonistic resort vibe.
Photography of the island is highly encouraged & welcomed, visitors are able to rez poses & small props for photography purposes only by joining the land group.
That sounds like a place to see, doesn’t it?

Lotus Bay overview (1)

Lotus Bay overview (2)

Lotus Bay is an almost round and rocky island with a dense tropical and colourful vegetation. The landing point is at a beach close to where a motor yacht has landed. From there a steep path leads up the rocks and into the island. You’ll find candles along the path, that will illuminate it during night.

Impressions of Lotus Bay (1) – landing point and small pool

The paths might look a bit confusing first but every mojor point of the island can be reached by paths. I first went to a place that I called the small pool. It’s just beautiful. All the rich and colourful vegetation around you and then this nice place to swim, cuddle or relax. Not far from it is another retreat, a cuddle nest.

Impressions of Lotus Bay (2) – cuddle nest and house & concert patio

From many points you can see elements of a bigger white house in an hispanic style peeking through the bushes and leaves. This big house is in the center of Lotus Bay. There’s a large open air patio with a piano and some opportunities to sit, obviously used as a place for concerts. The house is furnished inside, but I just had a short look.

Impressions of Lotus Bay (3) – at the large pool

I continued exploring and came to a large pool, really luxurious! It invited me to take a rest and to try out some of the animations, but as I were alone, that was less than half of the fun. I can imagine that it is a perfect place to cuddle or to have other (adult) activities.
Close to the large pool but not directly accessible from there is an open air event area, with a place to dance and sitting groups to play games. From event area you can see the other beach of Lotus Bay and I went down to it. Nested into the rocks I found another cuddle place there.

Impressions of Lotus Bay (4) – games & event area, 2nd cuddle nest

Lotus Bay is a really well made, great place. The vegetation offers a lot of spectacular views, the many opportunities to sit and cuddle and to have fun with others are all very thoughtfully arranged and look premium. A true luxury island!
I enjoyed my visit a lot. Thank you, Maria, for providing your place to the public!

Landmark to Lotus Bay
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Lotus%20Bay/193/163/23

Simploring 2019 (42) Two sides of Japan – Tokyo Street and Umi

Lately I saw pictures of Tokyo Street on scoop.it SL Destinations several times and I read a bit more about it in some blogs. I learned that Tokyo Street is part of a (moderate) sim created by Paradox Ivory. It’s located on a seperate platform in 2.000m altitude. On the ground level of the same sim is a Japanese costal village named Umi.

Paradox Ivory says about herself that she’s a dreamer, a prim addict and a sim designer. In her picks I found a comment about Hinansho, a Japanese sim that I visited last year (see Simploring 2018 (98) Hinansho): “I love this Sim, its one that has inspired me since I first visted“.
And I found pick about SSOC, another sim that I have visited before (see Simploring 2017 (78) A Metropolis in Second Life): “Another Amazing Sim that helped inspire me before I even realized I wanted to create my own

Impressions of Tokyo Street (1)

In the landmark profile Tokyo Street is described as follows: “As the sun goes down the streets come alive. Nothing sleeps in the city. Enjoy a walk through lantern lit streets or take in some tasty street food while you enjoy the unique atmosphere of this densly packed tiny Tokyo city.”
I started my simploring at Tokyo Street using the teleport to Subway Entrance NW.

Impressions of Tokyo Street (2)

It is an amazing place to visit. When you leave the subway station you enter a small street lit by lanterns, full of life, restaurants, shops and clubs. It really looks busy and it looks how I expect Japan to be (I never was there in RL). It is really packed full with details and ittook some time to load the textures but it was worth the time!
Once I left this area, I entered what a large town with skyscrapers, some smaller buildings which seemed to be leftovers from a long time ago. The city has everything, a police station, a train station, parks, a fair, many shops and restaurants and another area with small streets with a second subway station Entrance NE.

Impressions of Tokyo Street (3)

The city is really impressive and I took many pictures. I zoomed out to get an impressions of its size. It feel way bigger inside than it is actually. I love all the details. Many shops and buildings are furnishedand you can walk in and sit down. Tokyo Street is a further development of SSOC with a touch of Hinansho. Great!

Impressions of Umi (1)

I continued my simploring tour visiting Umi. What a contrast! And yet it is still Japan. Umi is a fisher village. It has two rows of houses arranged in a half circle. While one row nestles up against a huge hill, the second row faces the see and every house as sea view and most a pier for small boats. Again I enjoyed the many details. The houses are small, they are all furnished and every square inch is used (just as I picture Japan to be).

Impressions of Umi (2)

I explored almost every house, I just left out 4 houses that were marked as private residences. After visiting Tokyo Street I enjoyed the peacefulness of Umi. But there’s more. I dared to climb the hill, I enjoyed the view from the radio tower on the top ofthe hill and I disovered a nice fisherman hut at the other side of Umi.

Impressions of Umi (3)

My short visit to Japan was impressive. Having these 2 places with it’s connecting and opposing elements combined in one sim is really outstanding. I recommend that you switch on your sounds to hear the noise of Tokyo Street and the peace of Umi.

There’s so much to see, so many details to discover that time really flew by.
Thank you Paradox Ivory for sharing your sim with the public. I really enjoyed my visit to Japan.

Landmark to Tokyo Street (Subway Entrance NW)
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Dox/79/179/1998
Landmark to Umi
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Dox/99/134/21

Simploring 2019 (41) The Outer Garden

I made a short simploring tour to “The Outer Garden” on Wednesday, March 20th. I came across it once again by scoop.it SL Destinations. And I’m for sure not the first one writing about “The Outer Garden“. Actually there’re many blogs that had reported about it. But for me it was new :-).

The Outer Garden exists since New Year Day 2015 and it is steadily developing and changing as far as I understood. The sim is owned and created by bisou Dexler. bisou runs an own blog about The Outer Garden.

Impressions of The Outer Garden (1) – Traveling Carnival

The Outer Garden is pure fantasy, a white world. It’s filled with art objects and full of light effects. The lateast addition to is is named “Traveling Carnival“. You get there when you use the teleporter, that is interagted into a mirror, right at the landing spot. Of course it is also a white world. Admist a sea of white flowers and snow crystals in the air is a large Venetian gondel and in the background you can see a building and a door submerged it light. Of course I went there and when I reached the door .. I fall down through the ground to the Ground level.

Impressions of The Outer Garden (2)

During my journey to the ground level I passed a full train arranged on a cloud (don’t miss it). On the ground level, there’s a lot to discover. You see trees and elements of a fair appear through the fog that mostly covers the ground, through light rays, flying fishes, snow flakes. Some objects are flying, others are on the ground.

Impressions of The Outer Garden (3)

There’re places to sit and have fun, and there’re a lot of motives for taking pictures. The Outer Garden is, in my eyes, pure surreal art, with a strong touch of fairyland.
Most of the time, I didn’t change the windlight setting and hence the pictures I took are kept in white colours. But I saw other reports, where the windlight setting was changed and in the end of my visit, I tried that myself – what a difference! The fog on the ground is water and the whole scenery changes a lot. There must be endless possiblities and angles for taking pictures at this beautiful fantasy spot.

Impressions of The Outer Garden (4)

Thank you bisou Dexler for creating this corner of Second Life. I strongly intend to come back and try out more settings for my viewer. I enjoyed my first short visit lot.

Landmark to The Outer Garden
https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/TheOuterGarden/148/130/251
Bisou’s blog about The Outer Garden
http://thegaien.blogspot.com/

Simploring 2019 (39) Baroqued Orientilika

For my short simploring tour on Monday, March 18th, I picked Baroqued Orientilika from scoop.it SL Destinations mostly because that there was no information about the place, just a picture and Japanese characters.

Impressions of Baroqued Orientilika – Shopping in Japan (1)

Baroqued Orientilika is owned by Kamo. It is a complex of 8 identical 3 stories Japanese buildings arranged in 2 rows with 4 buildings each. The buildings are surrounded by an alley of cherry trees on 2 sides, by altars, buddhas, arches and statues of elefants on one side, and on one side by an entrance building with 2 high rise temples on each side. It’s an impressive complex – held mostly in red and very Japanese.

And what is it about? It’s shopping mall, a place to take pictures, an a place to meet. I don’t know if it is a temporary event mall or if it is a permanent mall, I assume it’s open for a limited time.

Impressions of Baroqued Orientilika – Shopping in Japan (2)

The shops are only on the ground level and they are all decorated very well and not just vendors. There are a lot shop spaces that are fill with photo scenes for taking solo pictures or couple pictures within a 3D environment. I didn’t count them, but there’re quite a few.

Last but not least, it’s fun to explore what’s around the 8 buildings, the many temples and the elephants. There’re also some possibilities to sit and chat (with your friends after shopping *winks*) and the cherry alley is really nice and inviting for taking pictures.

Impressions of Baroqued Orientilika – Shopping in Japan (3
))

As I can’t read nor speak Japanese, I couldn’t find out more about Baroqued Orientilika. But it is refreshing different to the shopping malls, that I saw in Second Life so for. Have a look yourself 🙂

Landmark to Baroqued Orientilika
https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/BAROQUED/160/128/63/

Simploring 2019 (38) Illicit Sculpture

I came across Illicit Sculpture by scoop.it SL Destinations once again. Illicit Sculpture is a new gallery space in Second Life owned by Sweet Bliss (evedelombre), she is also the curator and the first exhibition is about her art.

illicit Sculpture – the entrance to the gallery

You can grab an information notecard at the entrance of the gallery. In It you find more about Sweet Bliss and her intentions with the gallery. It touched me, because if shows how important Second Life and it’s possibilities is for some of it’s residents.

illicit Sculpture – Exhibition catalouge

I first joined Second Life back in 2007 as Morbid Emor. Since then I have had various incarnations in this wonderful pixel-filled world. Second Life has been a lifeline to me at many points over the past 12 years. I am disabled, queer and mentally ill and Second Life enables me to be and to experience things in a totally unique way free from real world restrictions.
This current endeavour, the Illicit Sculpture Gallery, is purely to enable me and others like me to express ourselves free from the constraints of the “real world”. I would never be in a position to own my own art gallery in real life.
The gallery aims to be free for all and will be maintained via any donations received to pay for Linden Lab fees. Thank you very much for your interest in the gallery. If you are an artist who would like to exhibit your work, please contact the gallery

Defiant (acrylic on canvas) (upper left) / Disdain (mixed media) (upper middle) / Untitled (monotype print) (lower left) / Loss (acrylic on canvas) (lower middle) / Journey (digital photography) (lower right) / Self-Portrait (digital 3D imagery) (right side)

Going further inside there’s adesk where you can donate and where you can grab a catalogue. The catalogue explains the background of each picture. It’s a restrospective of Sweet’s last 12 years, an achknowledgement of the supportshe received with the virtual world of Second Life
Her art is impressing, comprises different styles and techniques, and the texts provided by the catalogue gives each piece a particular meaning.

illicit Sculpture – Sweet Bliss: A Dangerous Dozen

The exhibtion is opened until April 19th.

Thank you Sweet for providing the place for the art. Good Luck with the new gallery!

Landmark to Illicit Sculpture
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Sled/30/174/164
Illicit Sculpture Website
https://illicitsculpture.wordpress.com/
Illicit Sculpture on Flickr
https://www.flickr.com/groups/4074994@N23/

Simploring 2019 (36) Authors Point

Saturday, March 16th, I picked Authors Point from scoop.it SL Destinations for my simploring tour.
Authors point is an adult homestead, owned by Weed Bombastic. It consists of two connected islands, both of them having steep cliffs and rocks and a plain plateau. Several residential homes are arranged around the islands on the sea level like satellites.

Authors Point – overview

The two islands are quite different. The plateau of the island, where you land, is dominated by grassland which glows golden like in autumn. Besides a residential home, that is open to the public, there’s not much else on the plateau, just a wind mill and some single trees. The place is great for taking picures.

Impressions of Authors Point (1) – around the landing point

I went down to the sea level and had a look at the different residential homes. Some of them were rented out at the time of my visit, some were available. They all have access the to sea and their architecture is interesting, they have interlaced levels and most of them have 2 and more stories.

Impressions of Authors Point (2) – some houses that are available for rent

The plateau of the other island is occupied by kind of a fantasy world. The trees and flowers glow in strong colours, in pink and blue and green. There’re paths and several opportunities to sit and cuddle. I liked in particular a tree, which was decorated with several books, on its base I could sit down and read.

Impressions of Authors Point (3) – the “Fantasy”-plateau

At one side the two islands are connected on the sea level by a dark gravel beach. Although this side of Authors point looks a bit inhospitable it offers some scenic views and a campfire place.

Impressions of Authors Point (4)

I ended my visit where I began it, on the first island’s plateau. On an intermediate level between the plateau and the sea level I found a piano placed admist the grassland overlooking the sea.

Impressions of Authors Point (5)

I can’t judge about Authors Point‘s community but the two islands offer nice public spots and great views. In particular the golden shimmering grassland plateau is impressive. And the those who tend more to fantasy will enjoy the other island’s plateau. I liked it’s colourfulness. Thank you, Weed Bombastic for sharing Authors Point with the public.

Landmark to Authors Point
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Authors%20Point/108/76/43

Simploring 2019 (34) Florence Bay

Thursday, March 14th, I visited Florence Bay together with Angelique. It was nice to have Angelique with me on my tour. I had the landmark on my list of places for a while already since I read Inara Pey’s blog post “A rendezvous with Florence Bay in Second Life” back in September 2018. Just a few days before I finally went visiting, Florence Bay was also listed again in scoop.it SL Destinations.

Florence Bay – overview

Florence Bay is a (moderate) homestead owned by Gnaaah Xeltentat and Tomaso Franizzi. It was originally designed, created and landscaped by Minnie Atlass. Florence Bay is a rocky island with dark gravel shores formed in the shape of a horse shoe.
The landing is at a pier close to a lighthouse at one end of the horse shoe. Angelique and I searched a way from there to the houses we could see from the landing pier but there’s no path. Hence we had to climb and search our own way.
We first went to the lighthouse and then back, climbed up the rocks and visited the cafe, from which you have a nice overlook over the bay. We both wondered how the guests may reach the cafe.

Impressions of Florence Bay (1) – around the landing pier

Quite close to the landing is another curiosity – a garage with car, but there’re no streets on the whole island. From the garage you can walk on the top of the rocks along the whole island and make side trips to the shore. But don’t expect too many paths. There’re stairs from the shore to the rim of the rocks at some places though.

Impressions of Florence Bay (2)

Angelique and I visited the chapel which had another curiosity in stock for us, as there’s no altar but a buddha statue inside of it. We went to the raft with a tent and a sail, that is nearby. And we had fun sitting on a bench that is in front of two funny birds who seemingly talked with us.

Impressions of Florence Bay (3)

Florence Bay has two private residences, those of Gnaaah Xeltentat and Tomaso Franizzi and you’re kindly asked to respect the privacy there. Gnaaah confirmed to me later, when I had the opportunity to talk with him, that the rest of Florence Bay is public.
Florence Bay offers a lot of beautiful views and places to cuddle and enjoy And Angelique and I enjoyed exploring as well as trying out some of the places to sit and cuddle. There’s a lot of nature and animals like birds, seals, deers and many other who live peacefully here. And of course I took many pictures.

Impressions of Florence Bay (4)

We ended our visit with a long stay on the cuddle pier just below of one of the private houses. A seal was watching us and a few other seals were sunbathing close by.

Impressions of Florence Bay (5)

Florence Bay is a peaceful place to retreat to. It’s once again a personal dreamworld, and we could sense the love and the passion that went into it’s creation. I appreciate a lot that Gnaaah Xeltentat and Tomaso Franizzi share their world with the public. Thank you!
And the above mentioned curiosities just make Florence Bay a bit more unique and outstanding.

Landmark to Florence Bay
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Rendevous%20Rock/52/88/27
Inara Pey’s blog post “A rendezvous with Florence Bay in Second Life”
https://modemworld.me/2018/09/26/a-rendezvous-with-florence-bay-in-second-life/

Simploring 2019 (33) Provincial Life and High Rock

Inspired by scoop.it SL Destinations and by Inara Pey’s blogpost “A Provincial Life in Second Life” I made a simploring tour to Provincial Life.

Provincial Life is a (moderate) homestead owned by Hania Amidst (amberfff). In the landmark description Hania wrote about it:
The quiet simple life for me. Lots of little photo ops. and connected to High Rock for extended exploration. Please be respectful and have fun.

Provincial Life, High Rock and Provincial Life too – overview

In fact I didn’t just visit Provincial Life but also High Rock and Provincial Life too, different plots of one and the same homestead. I didn’t go to the 2nd Island on this homestead as it is obviously private.

Provincial Life is rural, beautiful and and offers wonderful views with many opportunities to take pictures. Close to the landing is a small house, fully furnished and sort of a spontaneous event area with a truck which loading area is used as a stage. Wild horses graze peacefully not only here but on the whole Island, an old rusted tractor is used to adverstise a farmer market, cats, dogs and other pets roam around.

Impressions of Provincial Life

Not far from the house is a nice spot at the shore to sit and mediate and a cosy hut, where you can just enjoy the environment and cuddle. Walking along the path to the inner island you get to another lovely small house, furnished and decorated, surrounded by grasland and grazing horses.

The other part of the island is named “High Rock”. No surprise, that it is dominated by a high rock, which is painted with graffiti, natives, a rainbow, hearts and other pictures. Below of it is a nice pond, more places to relax and sit and chat. I walked up the rock and the view from there down is just beautiful. There’re again several places to sit and to cuddle.

Impressions of High Rock (1)

Walking back and in another direction I came to a gazebo. Do I need to mention that it is furnished and offers lovely seats? *winks*. And nearby I met a grizzly. Thank god, it’s Second Life and I could even take a picture of me with the grizzly.

Impressions of High Rock (2)

Nearby is another beach. It belongs to Provincial Life too. I enjoy sitting there, took some more pictures and walked over to the house overlooking the beach. There’re sheeps grazing …. and they don’t mind that a group of grizzlies watch them. I didn’t go inside of the house, as it does look private.

Impressions of Provincial Life Too

Provincial Life and High Rock is a nice place for exploring and for taking pictures. It felt like a short vacation for me, it radiates peace and sereneness and is simply fun.

Thank you, Hania Amidst (amberfff), for sharing your place with the public. I enjoyed!

Landmark to Provincial Life
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Rooster%20Tail/189/203/28
Inara Pey’s blogpost “A Provincial Life in Second Life”
https://modemworld.me/2019/02/04/a-provincial-life-in-second-life/

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